Waste
Waste (Medicine)
Waste (pronounced: /weɪst/) in the context of medicine refers to the by-products or unused substances that are not useful for the body and are eliminated. This term is often used in relation to bodily functions and medical procedures.
Etymology
The term 'waste' originates from the Old Northern French word 'waste', which means 'wasted, wasted away'.
Types of Medical Waste
Medical waste can be categorized into several types, each with its own disposal methods and potential risks. These include:
- Biohazardous waste: This includes any biological materials that carry a risk of infection, such as blood, body fluids, and human or animal tissue.
- Sharps waste: This refers to objects that can pierce the skin, such as needles, scalpels, and broken glass.
- Pharmaceutical waste: This includes expired, unused, or contaminated pharmaceutical products, drugs, vaccines, and sera.
- Chemical waste: This refers to discarded chemicals generated from medical research, such as solvents and reagents.
- Radioactive waste: This includes unused radiotherapy sources and contaminated materials from diagnostic and therapeutic treatments.
Disposal of Medical Waste
Proper disposal of medical waste is crucial to prevent the spread of diseases and protect the environment. Methods of disposal include:
- Incineration: This is a common method for disposing of medical waste, particularly for biohazardous and pharmaceutical waste.
- Autoclaving: This method uses steam sterilization to disinfect waste, commonly used for sharps and laboratory waste.
- Chemical disinfection: This involves using chemicals to kill or deactivate pathogens in the waste.
- Landfill disposal: Non-hazardous medical waste can be disposed of in a sanitary landfill.
Related Terms
- Infection control: This refers to the practices and procedures that prevent the spread of infections, including proper waste disposal.
- Hazardous waste: This is a broader term that includes any waste that is dangerous or potentially harmful to our health or the environment.
- Waste management: This refers to the activities and actions required to manage waste from its inception to its final disposal.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Waste
- Wikipedia's article - Waste
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